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District Attorney Steve Cooley starts third term

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Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley was sworn in for a third term yesterday. KPCC's Frank Stoltze says Cooley's the first D.A. in 70 years to win a third term in L.A. County.

Frank Stoltze: The county's top prosecutor took the oath before hundreds of judges, police chiefs, defense attorneys, and fellow prosecutors.

Steve Cooley: I, Steve Cooley.
Person: During such time as I hold the office.
Cooley: During such time as I hold the office.

Stoltze: In a brief address, Cooley called for more spending on forensic science, including the collection and analysis of DNA.

Cooley: The city and county fathers have to treat forensic sciences the same way they do other parts of law enforcement. It's critical to public safety.

Stoltze: Cooley also proposed creating five multi-agency task forces in L.A. County to focus on cyber crimes like identity theft.

Cooley: That's where the crooks are going. And they're killing us.

Stoltze: The 61-year-old lifelong prosecutor ended by quoting Abraham Lincoln, as is the political fashion these days.

Cooley: I took it out of context, paraphrased it. (laughing) That really works. I do the very best I know how, the very best I can. I mean to keep doing it. So will the Los Angeles County D.A.'s Office. Thank you. (clapping)

Stoltze: L.A. County runs the largest local prosecution agency in the country. It handles close to 300,000 prosecutions a year.